When Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne took over Chrysler in 2009, it was considered a forgone conclusion that, eventually, he'd take the company public in an initial public offering. But now, Marchionne says the odds of an IPO are merely 50-50.

One of the bolder initiatives Starbucks announced during last week's quarterly conference call was that 60 percent of the 1,500 new U.S. locations the barista-tended chain plans to open through the next five years will have drive-thru windows.

Forget transforming your living room: There are a dozen or so automakers at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas proposing new technologies to transform your car, from Bluetooth health-monitoring to self-driving vehicles.

Luxury cars to pamper your inner oligarch caught the eye as the Moscow motor show opened on Wednesday, but it is the Russian of more modest means who has the attention of the world's carmakers, keen to profit from one of Europe's few growing markets.

One recent study of used-car buying habits found that women were more likely to do research and have a mechanic inspect a car before buying. Another study on new-car buying preferences shows that women make more practical choices.

Looks like rough sailing ahead: Moody's warned the GOP that its game of chicken with the debt ceiling risked a downgrade of U.S. debt, and the Labor Department said May hiring took a dive. But there are some things investors can look forward to: a Groupon IPO, and the government selling its last shares of Chrysler.

Major automakers are set to release February sales figures on Tuesday, and analysts expect the reports will show sales improved 20% compared to a year ago as consumers continued to warm to the slowly improving economy -- so far, despite surging oil prices.

Union employees at Chrysler Group will receive a $750 bonus next week as an acknowledgment of their contributions in helping to revive the once-bankrupt company, the automaker said Monday. Salaried workers, excluding the company's top 50 executives, will also receive the payment.

A slowly brightening economy combined with low financing rates and generally stable fuel prices have put consumers in a buying mood. New models, particularly from Ford and GM, are also helping to keep U.S. auto sales on a positive trajectory as 2011 starts.

Chrysler has finally decided to jump on the hybrid bandwagon, announcing Wednesday that it is working with the EPA to develop a hydraulic hybrid powertrain for its vehicles. The system, which stores energy derived from vehicle braking as pressure, could improve fuel economy by 30% to 35%.